Thursday, March 15, 2012

Sara's Elements of art - line

My quilt is based on the elements of art. I pieced Improvisational blocks with skinny strips - when faced with an inability to get a sewing machine to work, I resorted to hand quilting lines and dots with embroidery floss. I think it was a fortuitous problem as now the quilt speaks of rhythm as well as line.

I really loved this challenge. My first thought was the periodic table since I spent many years in chemistry classes. Hmm - can I say that my quilt was made if Helium and floated away? I settled on line since I remembered a sensory perception class I took with Susie Monday in which I clarified that I notice line and rhythm when I look at a scene. I liked this challenge so much that I even started another quilt which did not get done do to many life challenges, QA and the sewing machine that would not work. I do plan on finishing and posting that one too.

Sara, wow! I love how your skinny strips are continued with hand stitching. I learned how to do those skinny strips in Carol Taylor's class but haven't used them since. Thanks for reminding me of that technique. I agree with Carolyn, your quilt really sings!

Hi Sara - What a relief that you were finally able to finish your quilt especially with all the other challenges that popped up :-) I find your piece to be very dramatic... your use of color, rhythm, and the simplicity of your hand-quilted lines make this a very appealing piece of art !

Your quilt is a nice reminder for me to add a hand stitching element to more of my future quilts. I like the personal connection I feel from it. Bravo for weathering the challenges and coming out on top!

Sara,I like the dramatic look of this piece! The skinny strips and hand quilting really make the quilt speak to me. They pull me into the movement of the quilt and it fascinates me. Those lines make me want to know where they are going and if I can travel along with them.

Some Super Websites!

The Material Mavens

We are a group of art quilters who come from various parts of the United States, from the East coast and then south to Arkansas and Texas. We were inspired by the original Twelve by Twelve international art quilting group.

Beginning in September, 2011, we started posting our 12"x 12" art quilts, which were based on themes chosen in turn by our members. For Round One, we posted quilts every two months, always on the 15th of the designated months.

Round Two of The Material Mavens began in October, 2014. Some changes were made: quilts were posted every three months, and the quilts could be be either 12"x 12" or rectangular ones measuring 11" x 14", either horizontal or vertical in orientation.

Round Three of The Material Mavens will begin in July, 2018. Again, changes have been made. Now those members who wish to stay affiliated with the group are free to post quilts every time or every now and then. Two, our blog administrator collected suggested themes from the members who wanted to remain affiliated. These themes were then pulled at random from a "hat," and they were then assigned in order for the posting dates. Since we had 13 members who wanted to remain, we will be posting quilts every 3 months until 2021! This date is significant and appropriate, because 2021 will be the 10th year that our group has been in existence.